Students and faculty alike undoubtedly feel the school spirit coursing through their veins in all they do inside and outside of St. Joe.

Much joy and pride stems from the victories of the sports, JoeBotics, and dance teams, the successful plays put on by the theatre department, and the students’ impressive performances in academics. The pride can be felt and described, but can it be seen?

Vice Principal Karen Davis, one of the Spirit Club’s new moderators, wants spirit to become even greater at St. Joe.

“We have a lot of school spirit here,” Ms. Davis said, “but we need to see it, instead of feel it.”

The SJA Spirit Club is the physical embodiment of the spirit of the school; they allow it to be seen. The club has been part of school life for many years, but this year they plan to be louder, prouder, and bolder than ever before.

Under the new guidance of Ms. Davis and Mrs. Diane Everitt, Spirit Club is preparing for a successful year filled with non-stop excitement. The dynamics of the leadership team are undergoing a change this year in order to broaden the club’s impact on the school.

Instead of a small team of students, the club will be committee driven by co-presidents overseeing co-vice-presidents and their teams. The officers will be acting as partners to ensure that one will always be present, even if the one is in-season with a sport, play, or other activity.

Co-presidents Chickie Slane and Carmen Sansone have a team of 17 other seniors under them. The co-vice-presidents of Focus Games and Treasury are Annie Harter and Morgan Smith with a core team consisting of Emily Geraty, Anna Taulbee, Libby Breheny, and Mackenzie Bishop. The co-vice-presidents of Communication and Secretary are Catherine May and Isabella Smith.

“Spirit club will have a very successful year!” May said.

Maggie Merrifield, Taylor Adler, and Emily O’Donnell will be making up their core team. Lastly, Gabrielle Kiefer and Kathryn Kennedy are the co-vice-presidents of Cheer & Spirit, and Erika Pudlowski, Jackie Wildeisen, Molly Boersig, and Meghan Risley are on their core team. All the officers will work hard in their specific roles, while helping out everyone on a broader scale.

Spirit Club is planning to bring their A-game to every game this year with a multitude of fresh, new ideas. From more frequent dance parties and pep rallies, to a greater emphasis on our school colors, to bringing back old cheers, this year is sure to be exciting.

Sansone gave more insight into what we should expect from Spirit Club this year.  She talked of increasing turnouts and excitement for the focus games.

To put that in perspective: imagine the Killa Villa thrill more than once a year.

Carmen did not want to give too much away about their plans, but she did say Spirit Club would be working with members of STUCO and class office to come up with some more ideas.

One plan in the works, Sansone said,  is a “carpool system for the underclassmen who can’t drive…to bring them to all the games they would like to come too.”

Spirit Club cannot thrive on its own, Mrs. Everitt explains.

“It’s not just the officers…It needs to be hundreds of people as often as we can,” she said. “We’re just going to take what we have and turn it up.”

In the words of Ms. Davis concludes, St. Joe is “going to bring back the Green Machine.”